State profile · Below median Poor share

Washington bridge safety

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition shares for every public highway bridge in Washington.

8,474
Public bridges
50.1%
Good condition
5.5%
Poor condition

Washington has 8,474 public highway bridges in the FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, and 462 of them are rated Poor.

That is 5.5% of the state's inventory, against an average of 7.5% across the 54 states and territories with Poor-rated bridges on file, which places it 24 of 54 ordered from the lowest Poor share upward. A bridge is rated Poor when its weakest applicable component scores 4 or below on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, so the category is a maintenance and funding signal rather than a closure order or a live crossing-safety verdict.

Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026

Total Bridges

8,474

Public highway bridges in Washington

Good Condition

50.1%

4,246 bridges rated 7-9

0.1pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

5.5%

462 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-2.1pp vs national avg 7.5%

Washington vs national bridge condition

Washington - Good condition share 50.1%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

Washington - Poor-condition share 18.2%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

Washington in the national condition pattern

Each point is a state or territory in the FHWA NBI; the highlighted point is this profile.

Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: Washington has 8,474 bridges and a 5.5% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #24 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold. Scatter plot of 54 data points. 0%10%20%30%40% 0k20k40k60k Public bridges in inventory (thousands) Poor-condition share (%) WA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.45%AL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.35%AK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.89%AZ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.15%AR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.43%CA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 25.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.91%CO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.82%CT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.72%DE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.26%DC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.95%FL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.79%GA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.59%GU, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.77%HI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.53%ID, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.9%IL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.35%IN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.22%IA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 19.16%KS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.26%KY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.37%LA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 12.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.48%ME, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.41%MD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.56%MA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.88%MI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 11.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.27%MN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.44%MS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.03%MO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.95%MT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.81%NE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.9%NV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.14%NH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.51%NJ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 6.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.01%NM, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.51%NY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 17.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.43%NC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.76%ND, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 10.98%OH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.74%OK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 22.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.7%OR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.61%PA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.58%PR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 13.92%RI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.2%SC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.17%SD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 16.36%TN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 20.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.41%TX, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 56.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.23%UT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.91%VT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.9%VI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 29.17%VA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.39%WV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 7.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 18.64%WI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.52%WY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.51%
Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: Washington has 8,474 bridges and a 5.5% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #24 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold.

Washington vs all states by public bridge inventory

Where this state's FHWA NBI public-highway bridge count sits among every state and territory on PlainBridges

8,474 29th of 54 higher than 25 of 54 states

States and territories, banded by public bridge inventory size

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory · 2024

Read the rank neighborhood for Washington

The highlighted point is Washington: 8,474 bridges and 5.45% in Poor condition, rank #24 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Washington on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Kansas: 24,894 bridges · 5.26% Poor
  • Arkansas: 12,974 bridges · 5.43% Poor
  • Washington: 8,474 bridges · 5.45% Poor
  • California: 25,848 bridges · 5.91% Poor
  • New Jersey: 6,827 bridges · 6.01% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Washington

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 8,474 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Washington’s inventory

State agency holds 39.9% of the 8,474 public highway bridges filed under Washington in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Washington’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 12.8% of the 8,474 bridges with a recorded original year in Washington. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Washington50.1%44.4%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Washington (FHWA NBI)

Counties (39)

Adams 187 Asotin 29 Benton 167 Chelan 149 Clallam 151 Clark 218 Columbia 86 Cowlitz 160 Douglas 40 Ferry 53 Franklin 134 Garfield 54 Grant 306 Grays Harbor 363 Island 7 Jefferson 99 King 1238 Kitsap 115 Kittitas 308 Klickitat 90 Lewis 419 Lincoln 180 Mason 133 Okanogan 161 Pacific 120 Pend Oreille 71 Pierce 472 San Juan 13 Skagit 254 Skamania 120 Snohomish 500 Spokane 307 Stevens 75 Thurston 205 Wahkiakum 36 Walla Walla 195 Whatcom 354 Whitman 347 Yakima 558

Washington vs nearby ranks

Adjacent states by Poor-condition share (lower share = better)

States are ranked by the share of bridges whose lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below. This describes recorded condition; it does not measure funding effectiveness or live crossing safety. States here sit immediately above and below Washington on the same metric.

KS

Kansas

5.26% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$24,894

AR

Arkansas

5.43% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$12,974
Selected

WA

Washington

5.45% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$8,474

CA

California

5.91% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$25,848

NJ

New Jersey

6.01% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$6,827

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Washington

Six lowest-condition bridges in Washington, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

STATE ROUTE 509

Poor

Over: PUYALLUP WATERWAY RR

2.5 N JCT I-5, Pierce, WA

Built 1911 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 2,400

I-82

Poor

Over: WASTEWATER NUMBER 3

8.4 E JCT US 97, Yakima, WA

Built 1980 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 28,146

Fish War Mem X-ing

Poor

Over: PUYALLUP RIVER

0.2 N JCT I-5, Pierce, WA

Built 1925 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 15,255

POST STREET

Poor

Over: SPOKANE RIVER

00.6 N OF I-90, Spokane, WA

Built 1917 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 1,685

W Galer Street

Poor

Over: Private Road

Magnolia Seattle, King, WA

Built 1929 Load: 0.0 t

SILVER CK RD 00670

Poor

Over: NINE MILE CREEK

19.05 E SR 21, Ferry, WA

Built 1958 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 47

All Bridges in Washington

NELSON/1460

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

0.16 MI N GRINNELL, Whitman, WA

Built 1965 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 40

HESS ROAD

Fair

Over: CHANDLER CANAL

00.93 E OIEH, Benton, WA

Built 1953 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 145

BROADWAY STREET

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK CREEK

0.02 E OF MAIN ST., Okanogan, WA

Built 1982 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 50

6TH STREET

Fair

Over: DIVISION CREEK

DIVISION CREEK, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1937 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 2,080

ROEDER AVE

Fair

Over: WHATCOM CREEK/WATERWAY

AT JCT CENTRAL AVE, Whatcom, WA

Built 1995 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 7,800

KAMBER ROAD

Fair

Over: RICHARDS CREEK

SE 26th & 132nd, King, WA

Built 2005 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 9,709

SR 903

Fair

Over: ROSLYN CR

2.1 N JCT SR 903 SPUR, Kittitas, WA

Built 1938 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 5,737

US 101

Fair

Over: FULTON CREEK

28.4 S JCT SR 104, Jefferson, WA

Built 1926 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 2,393

SR 542

Fair

Over: SLIDE AREA

20.4 E JCT SR 547, Whatcom, WA

Built 1938 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 1,251

US 101

Fair

Over: LAKE CREEK

5.4 N JCT SR 110, Clallam, WA

Built 1946 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 3,890

SR 109

Fair

Over: CHENOIS CREEK

8.7 N JCT US 101, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1956 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 6,736

I-90

Fair

Over: HILLS NORTH RD

7.3 E JCT SR 261, Adams, WA

Built 1958 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 10,355

I-5

Fair

Over: TERRAIN

2.4 N JCT I-90, King, WA

Built 1963 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 90,012

US 2

Fair

Over: EBEY SLOUGH

1.1 E JCT I-5, Snohomish, WA

Built 1967 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 1,109

I-90

Fair

Over: DAMON RD

10.3 E GRANT CO, Adams, WA

Built 1972 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 5,871

I-90

Fair

Over: DAMON RD

10.3 E GRANT CO, Adams, WA

Built 1972 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 5,871

SR 6

Fair

Over: I-5

26.7 E PACIFIC CO, Lewis, WA

Built 1980 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 11,987

I-705 NB

Fair

Over: I-705 NB RAMP STREETS+

0.3 N JCT I-5, Pierce, WA

Built 1988 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 19,848

RD. NO. 26

Fair

Over: BUCK CREEK

M.P. 15.4 RD. NO. 26, Snohomish, WA

Built 1960 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 79

ROAD

Fair

Over: HOPE CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, King, WA

Built 1980 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 2

WAUKON ROAD

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

00.43 E SR NO 231, Lincoln, WA

Built 1930 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 220

COUNTY ROAD 92310

Fair

Over: DUCK CREEK

.12 MI. E SR 21, Lincoln, WA

Built 1935 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 186

VEAZIE-CUMBERLAND

Fair

Over: COAL CREEK

0.6 MI E OF SR-169, King, WA

Built 1950 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 3,189

HOWELL GRADE RD

Fair

Over: DAVIS CANYON

1.42 MI NW SR 12, Garfield, WA

Built 1979 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 95

PORTAL WY

Fair

Over: DAKOTA CR

00.3 NW HALL RD., Whatcom, WA

Built 1928 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 1,149

J R ANDERSON RD

Fair

Over: MASON CREEK

0.2W MASON CK RD, Clark, WA

Built 1959 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 446

QUINAULT S SHORE

Fair

Over: ZIEGLER CREEK

03.9 NE JCT US 101, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1971 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 477

LIND-WARDEN RD

Fair

Over: LIND COULEE

00.48 MI W ROXBORO, Adams, WA

Built 1954 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 130

HARWOOD HILL/3200

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

0.02 MI NW HARWD HILL CUT, Whitman, WA

Built 1970 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 20

NE BLAIR RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE WASHOUGAL

0.0 JCT NE ZEEK RD, Clark, WA

Built 1961 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 4,247

ONEILL ROAD

Fair

Over: NEWMAN CREEK

00.5 N JCT 9710, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1962 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 179

HAYWARD/5620

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK PALOUSE RIVER

0.01 MI SW RIVER, Whitman, WA

Built 1973 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 50

WINLOCK VADER RD.

Fair

Over: OLEQUA CREEK

0.26 S JCT SR 603, Lewis, WA

Built 1928 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 1,662

W NORTH BEND WAY

Fair

Over: GARDINERS CREEK

0.9 MI W OF SR-202, King, WA

Built 1941 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 6,500

Fish War Mem X-ing

Fair

Over: RAMP

0.2 N JCT I-5, Pierce, WA

Built 1925 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 15,000

US 101

Fair

Over: SOUTH NEMAH RIVER

1.7 N JCT SR 4, Pacific, WA

Built 1951 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,728

KITT ROAD

Fair

Over: LITTLE PEND OREILLE RVR

SEC 6 T34N R41E, Stevens, WA

Built 1971 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 25

SR 202

Fair

Over: SNOQUALMIE RIVER

4.2 E JCT SR 203, King, WA

Built 1931 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 9,502

US 101

Fair

Over: SKOKOMISH RIVER

1.8 S JCT SR 106, Mason, WA

Built 1932 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 7,382

US 101

Fair

Over: BOULDER CR

36.5 N JCT SR 109, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1936 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,984

SR 25

Fair

Over: QUARRY RD (ABANDONED)

29.4 N JCT US 395, Stevens, WA

Built 1935 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 777

SR 20

Fair

Over: DAVIS CREEK

2.3 E JCT SR 211, Pend Oreille, WA

Built 1936 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,528

SR 4

Fair

Over: SKAMOKAWA CREEK

24.2 E JCT SR 401, Wahkiakum, WA

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,535

SR 20

Fair

Over: SNOW CREEK

0.1 E JCT US 101, Jefferson, WA

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 4,953

SR 305

Fair

Over: AGATE PASSAGE

6.8 N BAINBRIDGE F/T, Kitsap, WA

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 21,643

SR 31

Fair

Over: PEND OREILLE RIVER

14.1 N JCT SR 20, Pend Oreille, WA

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,240

SR 108

Fair

Over: SKOOKUM CREEK

2.5 E GRAYS HBR CO, Mason, WA

Built 1952 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 3,494

SR 117 NB

Fair

Over: US 101

JCT US 101, Clallam, WA

Built 1956 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,196

SR 509

Fair

Over: DRY GULCH

9.7 N JCT I-705, Pierce, WA

Built 1957 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,666

SR 160

Fair

Over: PUGET SOUND @ SOUTHWORTH

11.2 E JCT SR 16, Kitsap, WA

Built 1957 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 3,681

Showing 1,301-1,350 of 8,474 bridges

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | Retired SD term explained →
Data sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI), latest released cycle. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI). Poor condition is an inspection-record category, not a closure or unsafe-to-cross designation. Consult the bridge owner for current status.

Understanding Bridge Conditions

How FHWA rates bridge condition on a 0-9 scale.

Check Your Daily Bridges

How to look up bridge condition data for bridges on your route.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

What to do with this

Use Washington's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Washington and open the highest-Poor shares first. County list
  • See where this state sits among peers on Poor-condition share. State rankings
  • Compare this state with another jurisdiction on the same measures. State compare

NBI condition ratings are inventory snapshots, not live crossing-safety verdicts.

Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Washington Good/Fair/Poor shares and county rollups on this page are computed from the same NBI extract as the national boards; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2024 NBI release. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.